Magnetically controlled game device



N. E. OBACK 2,806,323

MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept.17, 1957 Filed May 24, 1954 I I u INVENTOR. NELS E OBACK p 1957 N. E. OBACK 2,806,323

MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED GAME. DEVICE Filed May 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIEI .EI

INVENTOR. NELS E OBACK.

BY I

United States Patent-O a MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED GAME DEVICE Nels E. Oback, Los Gatos, Calif.

. Application May 24, 1954, Serial No. 431,939

6 Claims. (Cl. 46-240) The present invention relates to a toy, or game, and pertains more particularly to game apparatus wherewith one or more individuals may control and direct the movements of toy vehicles about a game board by the manipulation of control apparatus simulating that of an actual full-scale vehicle.

It is not new to control a toy figure or vehicle on a playing surface by means of a magnet moving closely beneath such surface.

However, the present invention contemplates the provision of simple, inexpensive and positively controlled magnet means mounted to control the movement of figures on a playing surface. The invention also provides a game device wherein each of two players may manipulate a separate figure in laterally separated portions of a playing surface, paths of figure movement on the playing surface being so arranged that predetermined movements of the figures therealong, will result in predetermined simulated situations, and the degree of skill of the respective players will be a definite factor in the relative manipulation of their respective figures.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved and simplified game apparatus whereby miniature vehicles may be manipulated on a playing surface by manually controlled magnetic means operating directly beneath the playing surface.

I Another object is to provide a game of skill wherein a plurality of miniature vehicles may be manipulated in predetermined respective areas of a playing surface by magnetic control means operating beneath the surface.

Another object is to provide a game of skill wherein a plurality of miniature vehicles may be manipulated in predetermined respective areas of a playing surface by magnetic control means operating beneath the surface.

Another object of the invention is to make an improved magnet manipulating apparatus for controlling the movement of figures on a playing surface.

. ,These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out more fully in the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention for use by one player at a time.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the playing board, a miniature automobile being shown mounted thereon with a magnet mounted within the hood portion thereof, the control magnet being shown beneath the playing board, portions of the automobile being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device shown in Fig. 1, alternative positions of movement of the control magnet assembly being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with the top or playing board of the box-like housing removed to show the control magnet manipulating apparatus therein.

Fig. 5 .is. a transverse vertical sectional view taken 2,806,323 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 board removed.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8+8 of Fig. 7.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, a single-player type game device A consists of a box-like housing 10 upon the top surface of which a toy vehicle B is mounted for manipulation by control means simulating those of a full scale vehicle in a manner to be described later herein. The housing 10 comprises a bottom panel 11, upright side walls 12,

12, a rear wall 13, and a sloping front panel 14. All of these housing members may be of suitable material such as wood, or if desired, the entire housing may be molded of suitable plastic material. Since the manner of molding the housing 10 from plastic material and a desirable type of plastic material to employ therefor would be obvious to one skilled in the art of plastic molding, it will be unnecessary to describe in detail the steps and material required for molding the housing.

A top panel 15 for the housing 1%) may be of stiff, nonmagnetic material such as, for example, cardboard, wood or plastic material. The top panel 15 preferably is of the order of A9" in thickness to facilitate magnetic control of the figure B on top of the panel 15 by a magnet moving therebeneath in a manner to be brought out later herein. If desired, a scenic back panel 17 of cardboard or other suitable material, with a suitable scene portrayed thereon, may be affixed to the rear wall 13 of the housing 10.

Paths of movement for the figures to be manipulated on the device such as roads 20 may be printed or otherwise depicted pictorially on the upper surface of the top panel 15. Set pieces, such as a building 21 may be molded or fabricated from suitable material such as plastic or cardboard if desired to add realism and to provide obstacles about which the game pieces must be maneuvered.

In order to teach a child playing with the device diflFerent types of driving, it is preferred that a portion of the roads 20, for example those in the upper or rear portion of the top panel 15 as shown in Fig. 1, be of a winding nature of the type encountered in country driving. Other portions of the roads, for example those in the front or lower portion of the top panel 15 as shown in Fig. 1 may be laid out in a generally rectangular pattern in the manner of city streets, with a dead-end portion 22 to give the child practice in backing the automobile. For other types of vehicles, such as airplanes, space ships or motor boats, for example, the top panel 15 would be decorated to depict a suitable environment therefor.

Dummy instruments, such as a simulated ignition switch 23 (Figs. 1 and 4) speedometer 24, combined gasoline and oil gauge 25, and additional control knobs 27 and 28 may be mounted or depicted on the instrument panel to further simulate the drivers station of an automobile or other vehicle.

A steering wheel 30 is mounted on the forward end of a steering rod 31 of suitable material such as wood doweling or plastic rod. The steering rod 31 is journaled for combined rotative and axially slidable movement in a flanged bearing 32 secured by screws 33 to the sloping front panel 14 of the housing 10. The mounting flange on the bearing 32 is sloped relative to the axis of the bearing to conform to the front panel 14 when mounted thereon with the axis of the bearing horizontal as best shown in Fig. 3.

The. rear end portion 31a of the steering rod 31 is journaled in a control magnet support member 34, which preferably is molded from suitable plastic material. The member 34 is substantially H-shaped in front-to-rear cross sectional configuration as shown in the endview thereof of Fig. 3, and comprises a pairof upright, panel portions 37 and: 38, joined by a horizontal control magnet support shelf portion 39; A cord-receiving groove 40 is provided longitudinally in the top surface of the shelf portion 39 and a control magnet 41 is mounted for slidable movement longitudinally of this shelf. A pair of control cords 43 and 44 for controlling the movement of the magnet 41 along the shelf 39 are secured to the magnet 41 to extend therefrom in opposite directions along the groove 40. These cords 43 and 44 are carried, respectively, in curved continuations 40a and 40b, of the groove 40 around the ends of the shelf portion 39. Thence, the cords 43 and 44 are brought inwardly and are wrapped,

respectively, in opposite directions around similar drum portions 47 and 48 on a spool-like member 49.

The member 49 is located between the front and rear panel portions 37 and 38' of the magnet support member 34 and is secured to the steering rod 31 to rotate therewith. Thus, when the steering wheel 31 is turned in one direction, for example, clockwise as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the cord 44 will be wound onto the drum portion 48 while the cord 43 will simultaneously be unwound from the portion 47, thereby drawing the magnet 41 toward the right along the shelf portion 39. The direction of movement of the control magnet 41 alongthe shelf portion 39 may be reversed by turning the steering wheel 30 in the opposite direction.

In the event that the member 34 is fitted rather closely in the housing 10, vent openings 34a (Fig. may be provided in both upright panel portions 37 and 38.

The entire magnet support member 34 may be moved slidably forwardly and rearwardly in the housing as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 3 by moving the steeringwheel 30 bodily forwardly or rearwardly. To facilitate slidable movement of the magnet support member 34 forwardly and rearwardly in the housing 10, the lower edges 37a and 38a (Fig, 3) of the front and rear panel portions 37 and 38 preferably are rounded.

The control magnet 41, as will be noted in Figs. 3 and 5, lies closely beneath the housing top panel 15, and is mounted either with a selected pole thereof directed upwardly, or with both poles thereof directed horizontally. A driven or controlled magnetically permeable member 50 (Fig. 2) is mounted within the hollow forward portion of the toy vehicle B and rests by gravity on the top panel of the housing as shown in Fig. 2. This driven member 50 may be itself .a magnet, and its lower marginal edges preferably are rounded off at 50a so that it will slide freely on the top panel 15; Since, when it is within the magnetic field of the control magnet 41, the member 50- will be magnetized thereby, for the purpose of the present description and claims this'upper member 50 will be referred to as a magnet. An upwardly extending stud 51 is provided onthe upper magnet 50 to fit into a recess 52 provided therefor within the hollow front portion of the toy vehicle B;

When apermanent magnet is used for the member 50, the location of'the poles thereof will be determined by the location of the poles of the lower magnet 41 in accordance with the well known law. of magnetic attraction that like poles repel'and unlike poles attract each other. Thus, if the lower or control magnet 41. is mounted with one pole thereof, for example, its north pole directed upwardly, the upper or controlled magnet 50 will have its southpole directed downwardly. Also, if the poles of thelower control magnet 41 are directed horizontally, those of the upper controlled magnet 50 also will be d i-' est er zpnta y, n ll. ep ra e by ppro imately the same distance as the poles of the lower magnet. With either of the foregoing arrangements, opposite poles of the two. magnets thenwill be as closely adjacent as possible for maximum magnetic attraction to each other.

The miniature automobile B is provided with front wheels 53 and rear wheels 54. The front wheels 53 need not rotate since they preferably are supported in slightly raised position from the top panel 15 as best shown in Fig. 2 so that the automobile will follow in trail upon moving the upper magnet like the trailer of a conventional truck-trailer combination. The rear wheels 54' are journaled on an axle 55 to. have rolling, supporting contact with the top panel 15.

In playing with the device A, a child first places the automobile B on the top panel 15 with the driven magnet 50 positioned in the automobile as shown in Fig. 2. He then either moves the automobile B or manipulates the steering wheel 30 to position the control magnet 41 directly beneath the controlled magnet 50. This brings the upper or controlled magnet 50 within the flux field (not shown) of the lower control magnet 41 and tendsto-re-. tain it therein in accordance with the well known principles of magnetic attraction. As the lower or control magnet 41 is moved about beneath the toppanel 15, providing such movement is not too fast or is not changed too suddenly in either acceleration, deceleration or direction, the upper magnet 50 will move slidably about the top or playing surface 15a of the top housing panel 15, remaining within the flux field of the control magnet 41 and carrying the toy automobile B in trail along with it.

In the modified form C of the invention (Figs. 6, 7- and 8) a double width 'housing is provided, and a pair of longitudinal, parallel guide tracks 61 and 62, which may be in the form of wooden or molded plastic ribs, extend lengthwise from front torear of the bottom- 63 ofthe housing 60 to guide against lateral displacement a pair of control magnet support members 64 and 65 (Fig. 7). These control magnet support members 64 and 65 may be generally similar to the magnet support mem-. ber 34 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive withthe exception that the former are provided with notches 67, respectively (Fig. 8), in their lower edges for guiding engagement with the tracks 61 and 62 respectively.

The double width top panel 69 (Fig. 6) of'the housing- 60 preferably has two similar but opposite road systems 70 and 71 imprinted or otherwise depicted thereon. Two control panels 72 and 73, with steering wheels 74*and'75, provided one for each thereof, are mounted on opposite ends of the housing 60. Thus two children may play the device C simultaneously, one child'being stationed at each end of the housing, with each manipulating his own automobile D and E, respectively, along his own road system.

Itwill' be noted that it is possible for two players operating their respective automobiles D. and E to so manipulate their respective cars asv to bring them into what would be dangerous proximity with each other if they were fullscale automobiles. Also, they may be caused to simulate a collision, for example, by bringing them into close proximity at the points marked crash.

Thus valuable lessons in driving a full scale automobile or other powered vehicle may be taught at pre-driving ages. Also, if desired, the two cars D and E may be racedabout the roads 70 and 71 in various sequence in the nature of a road race, and the skill of the drivers will determine very definitely the winner of the race, since too sudden a movement of the control magnet 41 willcarry it out of magnetic contact with the driven-magnet which it controls, thereby necessitating a delay-untilthe control magnet is again brought into controlling position beneath its driven magnet.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred'form of my invention, it will-be understood however, that variouschanges and modifications may be made in the details thereofwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims; Having thus describedthe invention, whatI claimas ber mounted within said housing, means guiding said magnet support member for movement lengthwise in said housing and beneath said support panel, a track on said magnet support member parallel to said support panel, said track extending transversely of said housing, a control magnet mounted for movement along said track at a height to position the upper end of said magnet closely beneath said support panel, a steering rod journaled in said magnet support member and extending lengthwise of said housing beyond an end thereof, means securing said steering rod against axial movement relative to said control magnet support member, a manipulating member mounted on the forward end of said steering rod, drive means operatively interconnecting the steering rod and the control magnet to move the control magnet longitudinally of said track upon rotation of the steering rod, a driven magnet deposited at random on said support panel to lie within the magnetic field of the control magnet when the latter is therebeneath, and a miniature vehicle having one end thereof supported on said driven magnet for movement in trail therewith upon movement of said driven magnet by said control magnet.

2. A magnetic game device comprising a housing, said housing having a horizontal fiat bottom panel and a flat top panel of magnetically non-permeable material mounted parallel to the bottom panel and spaced therefrom, a front panel mounted at one end of said top and bottom panels, a control magnet support member fitted into the space between the top and bottom panels, means guiding the support member for movement lengthwise within said housing, a control magnet support channel track along the upper edge of said magnet support member parallel to said support panel, a control magnet mounted for guided movement along said track, said magnet being of a height to position its upper end closely beneath said support panel, a steering rod journaled in said magnet support and extending through and beyond said front panel, said rod being free for combined rotative and axial movement relative to the front panel, means securing said steering rod against axial movement relative to said control magnet support member, a manipulating member on the forward end of said steering rod, drive means operatively interconnecting said steering rod and said control magnet to move said control magnet longitudinally of said track upon rotation of said steering rod, a driven magnet deposited at random on said support panel to lie within the magnetic field of the control magnet when the latter is positioned therebeneath, and a miniature vehicle operatively engaged by said driven magnet for movement therewith upon movement of the driven magnet by the control magnet.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said drive means consists of a cord Wound around the steering rod, end portions of said cord extending in opposite directions from a common point substantially tangentially of the rod, the oppositely extending cord portions 'being carried around end portions of the track and along said track to the control magnet to which they are secured.

4. A magnetic game device comprising a housing, a panel of magnetically non-permeable material forming the top of said housing, a second panel depicting a vehicle instrument panel forming the forward end of said housing, a control rod journaled for combined rotative and axially slidable movement in the forward end panel, a magnet support member mounted in the housing, means guiding the support means for movement from front to rear of the housing, means pivotally connecting the rear end of said rod to the magnet support member, means retaining the rod against relative axial movement in the support member for bodily moving the latter lengthwise of the housing by a force applied axially to the rod, a track on the support member for movement therewith, said track extending transversely of the housing and parallel to the top panel thereof, a control magnet mounted for movement lengthwise of said track closely beneath the top panel, drive means interconnecting the control magnet and the rod to move the control magnet along said track upon a predetermined rotative movement of the rod, and a driven magnet deposited on the top panel within the magnetic field of the control magnet when superposed thereabove, said driven magnet being of a size and configuration for movement about the top panel by the magnetic attraction of the control magnet.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the upper surface of the top panel is provided with a pictorial depiction of vehicle roads and a miniature vehicle is mounted with its front end pivotally connected to the driven magnet and its rear end resting on the top panel.

6. A magnetic game device comprising a frame, a carrier movab'ly mounted on the frame, guide means guiding the carrier for movement along the frame in a predetermined straight path, a manipulating rod journaled in the carrier and extending therefrom in the direction of the path, means restricting axial movement of the rod relative to the carrier whereby the carrier may be moved back and forth along the path by alternately pushing and pulling the rod, a track on the carrier extending transversely of the path direction, a magnet mounted for movement on the track, drive means interconnecting the rod and the magnet to move the magnet back and forth along the track by rotatively moving the rod in first one then the other direction, a thin non-magnetic panel closely overlying the magnet and disposed in a plane parallel to the track and the path, a toy figure mounted on the top of the panel for easy movement over the surface thereof, and an element in the figure magnetically attracted by the magnet when disposed therebeneath.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,858,020 'Linke May 10, 1932 2,239,395 Mallory Apr. 22, 1941 2,463,795 Neuzerling Mar. 8, 1949 2,639,545 Pastorius May 26, 1953 2,721,742 Whitlock Oct. 25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,708 Austria May 25, 1934 573,995 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1945 128,699 Sweden June 27, 1950 873,003 Germany Apr. 9, 1953 

